updated 06:08 am EST, Fri January 17, 2014

Reduces Wii U sales estimates by two thirds, also cuts 3DS forecast

Nintendo is feeling less confident over the sales of its Wii U game console, and has warned it has reduced sales estimates for its impending quarterly financial report. Initial estimates of 9 million sales of the console in the 2013-2014 financial year have dropped down to less than a third of a figure, with the new full-year total expected to be just 2.8 million.

The previous quarter's results in October revealed that it had sold just 160,000 Wii U consoles, with the earlier Wii still outpacing it globally with 210,000 sales in the same period. Software sales for the Wii U has also taken a hit, with the initial 38 million sales estimate brought down to a more restrained 19 million, half what was first thought to be sold.

Nintendo Wii U

While the sales of the Wii U are the bigger story, the other consoles from Nintendo have also seen changes in their full-year estimates. The Wii is now predicted to sell 1.2 million units instead of 2 million, though game sale expectations have risen from 20 million to 26 million. The high-selling Nintendo 3DS is expected to shift 13.5 million units by the end of the financial year alongside 66 million games, though these are also down from the 18 million hand-held consoles and 80 million games initially expected. Considering the high sales of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, it is unlikely that Nintendo will be able to reverse these estimates.

As a result, Nintendo forecasts an operating and net loss for the year of 35 billion yen ($335 million) and 25 billion yen ($240 million) respectively.